Some colorful characters put roots in Plain Township

Monday

PLAIN TWP. -- Plain Township may still have some of the smallest country hamlets in Wayne County, but during the 1800s, it boasted some of the most interesting local characters.

The village of Jefferson was laid out on June 30, 1829, by Stephen Williams and Alexander Hutchison, and was surveyed by Peter Emery. The plat was formally recorded two days later. The town was considered favorably situated four miles west of Wooster and at one time was a thriving business center.

The key to its commerce was that it was situated on the stagecoach line that ran from Wooster to Ashland. During the early period it served as the mail hub for the area, with George Waggoner as postmaster. The stagecoach line was vacated in the early 1870s, but in 1876 it was restored by Charles Lessiter for one year, and eventually passed into the hands of the Rev. Joshua Warner, son of Nathan Warner.

One of the most noted early residents of Jefferson was John Folgate, who at that time had the distinction of being the oldest white man that had ever lived in Wayne County. Folgate had been drafted in the War of 1812 at the age of 53, but he was later discharged on account of old age. Folgate died Sept. 15, 1870, at the age of 111.

Reedsburg was laid out by William Reed, after whom it was named on Dec. 23, 1835, and was surveyed by George Emery. The plat was recorded Jan. 4, 1836. The first settlers of the town were Mathias Starn, Joseph Mowery, John Peters and William Hagerman.

A well-known '49er from Plain Township was William Sidle. Born in Cumberland County, Pa., in 1789, he joined his son, John Sidle, in Wayne County in 1828 after John moved to Plain Township from York County, Pa. In the spring of 1849 William set out for the California gold rush via the overland route.

He took with him 12 other local men, 17 yoke of cattle, three wagons, one horse and two cows. His party left home on April 5 and reached California in August. Sidle, however, drowned in an accident on the Yuba River in the spring of 1850.

John Sidle went on to become one of the largest stock raisers and real estate owners in Wayne County.

William Goodfellow was born in County Cavan, Ireland, and at age 10 immigrated to America with his family, settling in Center County, Pa. In 1816 he moved to Plain Township, establishing a farm on the Ashland Road.

A radical anti-slavery and anti-liquor man, Goodfellow organized and served as president of the first temperance society in Wayne County, and lived to see all of its principles incorporated in state and national administrative enactments.

Source: "History of Wayne County, Ohio" by Ben Douglass

Wednesday: Moscow designed as county seat

Reporter Paul Locher can be reached at 330-682-2055 or plocher@the-daily-record.com.

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